kissing Ellen's flushed and tear-stained cheek, 'I will say nothing to bring you into trouble. Put your books away now, and I shall be back in half a minute.'

Instead of putting her books away, Ellen sat down to her exercise again; and it was a long half-minute, for she had time to make one or two more mistakes before Norah returned.

After all, I

'It is all right,' she said, brightly; 'Anne relented when I asked, as a favour to myself, that the schoolroom should be closed, not for today only, but for a week to come. believe her black cap is her most formidable feature; and though you do look terrified by the levity, Ellen, I have hopes of achieving a reform, even in that particular.'

CHAPTER III.

Long were to tell the travell and long toile, Through which this Shield of Love I late have wonne And purchased this peerless Beauties' spoile, That harder may be ended, than begonne: But since ye so desire, your will be donne. Then hearke, ye gentle Knights and Ladies free, My hard mishaps that ye may learn to shonne: For though sweet love to conquer glorious bec, Yet is the paine thereof much greater than the fee. The Faerie Queene.

THE

THE ensuing week introduced Ellen to a new and fuller life. Willy's illness, while it confined him to his room, and involved a good deal of attendance, was not of sufficient importance to cause anxiety; and, next to his mother, Aunt Ellen was his favourite nurse. She was privileged to read to him in the low, sweet voice, so soothing to the ear, to smooth his pillows, and proffer the services of her quiet step and light hand, whenever they were required. Even Anne admitted that Norah, herself too nervous to make an efficient nurse, could scarcely have dispensed with Ellen's help; and, therefore, she submitted to the unwelcome interruption of her course of study with an air of grim resignation edifying to behold. And Ellen was happy, not only in the sense of usefulness, and in the release from

irksome constraint, but in the increasing charm of Norah's sunny and cordial manner, as new to her as it was delightful.

The same atmosphere of harmony and brightness did not pervade the rest of the house. Every day, and often many times a day, some escapade of Phil's provoked a querulous complaint from Clara, or Anne's more stern and dignified remonstrance; and when Kate, over whom Phil's influence was irresistible, attempted to explain away the offence, and justify the of fender, her efforts were rewarded by a grave rebuke from her elder sister for encouraging his insubordination, while Phil himself asked how she could meddle in matters which did not concern her, 'like a harmless idiot, as she was.'

'Well, I am sure!' Kate would say, disconcerted for the moment, but quite ready to comply with Phil's next request, however outrageous. One day she was descried sitting by his side in a little tax-cart, which Phil's eloquence had enabled him to borrow from the adjoining farm, in order to take him to a rather discreditable fair in the neighbourhood. Kate looked nervous and ashamed, Phil jubilant and elated; and in answer to her timid request that he would drive less recklessly, he proposed that she should take the reins. But, happily for Kate, an incident by which all the neighbourhood were scandalised never reached the ears of her sisters, though Phil enforced her future submission by threatening to reveal it whenever she attempted a feeble resistance to his wishes.

'I say, mother,' said Phil, as he entered his brother's room with his peculiar jerking gait, 'don't you think it is time to go, when a dragon in a black cap appeals to my better feelings for the fourth time in one day?'

'My dear Phil!' said Norah, plaintively; and as this was the severest rebuke she ever administered, he naturally proceeded to justify himself.

'Particularly as I have mentioned once or twice that I have not got any better feelings, and she might be aware of the fact.'

'I should think she was,' said Norah ; 'I wonder what your father will think of her report of you.'

6

He will be still more edified by my account of that Fabulous Animal, the griffin or she-dragon,' rejoined Phil.

'You know,' said Norah, in the persuasive tone which a mother can scarcely use without revealing weakness of which a boy like Phil is quick to take advantage, 'you know that your father was so anxious that you and Willy should go to school together; but it will be quite impossible to keep you here until Willy is strong enough to go, if you cannot behave moderately well.'

6

Oh mother!' said Phil, casting up his eyes with a comic gesture of despair, if you take to appealing to my better feelings, it is all up with me. I had better go into a Reformatory at

once.'

Norah laughed, while Ellen looked up, colouring a little, as she said in a quiet, earnest voice'But, Phil, it really is not right.'

'Aunt Ellen next,' rejoined Phil; 'now there is only Wise Willy to deliver his testimony, and there he lies, looking unutterable things. Till I was introduced to my maiden aunts, I imagined him to be the only conscientious being in the world.' And with this sentiment on his lips, Phil departed as unceremoniously as he entered.

It is of no use,' said Norah, philosophically; 'I discovered long ago that any attempt to guide him only roused the spirit of wilfulness; and that I can but trust to those better feelings, whose existence he disclaims. But I am afraid that Anne will never accept that system of education.'

'I am afraid not,' said Ellen.

'And I must say,' continued Norah, 'that Phil tries her patience sorely. I believe it would be better to take flight until the boys have gone to school; and I might offer myself to the Aymers, who are used to Phil's eccentricities.'

'O Norah!' and Ellen's eyes filled with tears. 'Shall you miss me so much?" said Norah. 'It will take all the sunshine out of my life, said Ellen simply.

But not if you go with me.'

'That could not be: Anne would not like it.' 'Nous verrons,' said Norah, as she sat down to write to Mrs. Aymer.

Two days afterwards, on a morning signalised by Willy's first appearance in the drawing-room, Anne requested Norah, with some solemnity, to speak to her apart.

'I was going to ask the very same thing,' said